Joni Mitchell: Wild Things Run Fast

Joni Mitchell

Wild Things Run Fast

Label:

ORG

Media:

LP

Genre:

Rock/pop

Ratings:

Music

Sonics

Joni Mitchell’s career has been filled with startling detours. From the dulcimer- strumming folkie of the Woodstock era, to the jazz-infused, smoky stylist of today, the gifted singer/songwriter has been a bold and restless musical adventurer. Others might have been satisfied with early popular adulation and critical approbation, but rather than falling back on hits like “Big Yellow Taxi” or “Clouds,” Mitchell continually expanded her creative vocabulary by taking risks. Wild Things Run Fast (1982) was Mitchell’s first effort for newly formed Geffen Records after a long stint at Geffen’s Asylum label. While not as well received as the celebrated Court and Spark, WTRF was a return to more familiar musical terrain. A mélange of jazz/pop invention coated with swirling vocal harmonies, WTRF is best remembered for “Chinese Café” which quoted from the Righteous Brother’s hit “Unchained Melody.” Although the original pressing was a solid recording it’s no match for this 45-rpm, 180-gram, double-LP from ORG. Bernie Grundman’s remastering has smoothly unlocked the air, treble bloom, and taut bass too often hidden on the original— and the dimensionality and image focus are now superb. Not her finest, true; but even garden-variety Joni is exhilarating.